Flu virus hitting Arkansas County

Vester said the Arkansas Department of Health wholeheartedly recommends the influenza vaccination, which is very effective in preventing flu infections, hospitalization and deaths, for all eligible persons 6 months of age and older

In what is clearly the worst influenza season since 2009, the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) is currently receiving large numbers of reports of influenza infections, hospitalizations and intensive care unit admissions from all regions of the state.

"The flu has hit early and hard," Wanda Vester Arkansas County Health Unit Administrator, said.

Vester said the Arkansas Department of Health wholeheartedly recommends the influenza vaccination, which is very effective in preventing flu infections, hospitalization and deaths, for all eligible persons 6 months of age and older

"In Arkansas approximately 1.5 million people are vaccinated against the flu this season," Vester said.

Vester said if the vaccine keeps 80 percent of recipients from getting the flu, 1.2 million people would be protected and 300,000 would remain at risk of disease. It is completely expected to see a minority of vaccinated people develop the flu.

When a vaccinated person develops the flu it may be for a number of reasons, which include:

• Already exposed to the flu before vaccination — The person may be exposed to the influenza virus before getting vaccinated or during the two-week period that it takes the body to gain protection after getting vaccinated. As a result, the person may become ill with the flu before the vaccine can protect them.

• Exposure to the flu that is not included in the seasonal flu vaccine — There are many different influenza viruses that circulate every year. Characterization of viruses collected this season in the U.S. indicates that 90 percent of the circulating viruses match the vaccine viruses; however, 10 percent of circulating viruses are likely not covered by the vaccine.

• Some people get the flu anyway — Some older people and people with certain chronic illnesses may fail to develop effective immunity after vaccinations. While vaccination offers the best protection against an influenza infection, it is still possible that some individuals may become ill after being vaccinated.

"We still have the flu vaccine at the health unit,"Vester said. "We try to work people in between other scheduled appointments if they need the flu vaccine."

For more information concerning the new programs, contact the health unit in DeWitt at (870) 946-2934 or in Stuttgart at (870) 673-1609.